Rat thap



man

@et l2 1926.

F. H. JORGENSEN RAT TRAP Filed Sept. 20,

2 Sheets-fSheet 1 F. H. JCRGENSIEN RAT TRAP Filed Sept. 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 7.7 ,715 agr/mam Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

FRED H. JORGENSEN, OF

RAT

Application filed September 'llhis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rat traps, and an object ot the invention is to provide a device of this hind which will be extremely re liable in operation.

further object ot the invention is to provide a rat trap which may be cheaply and easily .manutactured, and one wherein the operation depends wholly upon the natural action ot the rat atteinptirp` to gain access to a suitably locatedL bait holder.

Other objects will appear as the nature ot the invention is better understood. and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement otl parts, hereinafter more lully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

lln the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding;l parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top pla view, partly broken away, or a rat trap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure Q, is a. longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially upon the lino 2-2 ot Figure 4, and illustrating` the trap in set position.

Figure 8 is a view, similar to Figure 2, with the parts in trapping; position.

Figure l is a transverse sectional view, taken substantia ly upon the line ot Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view oit' the swiniring door between the runway housings; and the main trap chamber.

Rctcrrina more in detail to the drawing', the invention embodies a tubular casing; 5, alongside oll which is positioned main trap chamber G, which parts a 'e joined in any suitable manner but being` preferable separable, The runway casing- 5 is open at both ends and. is provided with a pair ot inclined runways that extend from the ends ot said casina' upwardly to a point where they moet at the center of the trap, as shown in Figure 2. Each runway comprises an inclined hinged plattform' 7 having` its outer end pivoted upon a horizontal axis as at 8 lor vertical swingiup,l movement, and an inner plat- Yterm 9 upon which the inner end ot the iilat'lorm 'Z overlaps, the plat'iorm il being; carried by a swinging; st up 10 upon the on oif which said plattorm 9 is fl at ill, The adyaceat central porti are providcil with COUNCIL GRVE, KANSAS.

TRAP.

20, 1923.. Serial No. 663,730.

projecting tongues 12 which are preferably disposed at one side as shown in Figure l, and which ovcrlie the opposed platform, whereby, when one platform 9 `is depressed, a depression of the other plattform i) is also had.

A doorway is provided between the central portion oi the runway casing' 5 and the main trap chamber 6, and the latter chamber is provided with a pair of parallel walls 13 that extend transversely ot the chamber G ior a slight distance at opposite sides ot said doorway or opcnimfgv between the casing' 5 and chamber 6. rlhe walls 13 support a horizontal pivot pin 14 upon which a normally closed door l5 is hinged ior vertical swingingl movement, the door 15 beinginclined when closed and extending,T inwardly as shown in Figure ll. rllhe door l5 is preterably toi-med with end bearing` sleeves 1G P as shown clearly Figure 5 between which is p; ,vided clearance for a helical member 17 which encircles the pivot pin or rod 11i and has one end termed in the chamber of a depending hoolr shaped arm 18, the other end or said member 1.7 being;` extended inwardly to provide an arm at 19 that ovcrlies and is tree ot the door 15. The arm i8 disposed in the path or" one of' the platforms 9 so as to be swung inwardly upon lowering; of said platform whereby the arm 1) i raised and platform 9 passes below the hool arm 18, and then arm 19 drops down and brings the hoolr over platform 9, iolding it down.

Suitably supported in the runway casing' at the inner ends ot the platform 7 are bait holders Q0 that may and preferably do have one side, or the inner side thereof, oic perforated or 'toraminous form as at 21, whereby the scent from the bait 22 disposed in the receptacles will be readily perceived hy the animal. The bait holders may be provided with srutable removable covers 23, and the cess to the bait 22 which may be had only by passing .on said platform 7 onto the adjacent platform 9. When this takes place, the weight of the animal causes downward swinging movement of said platform 9 at its inner end, and as the outer end of said platform 9 is disposed beneath the before mentioned platform 7, the latter is caused to swing upwardly into engagement with the bottom of the bait holder so as to close the adjacent end of the runway casing as shown in Figure 3.. Also, when this work platform 9 is depressechthe finger 12 thereof engages the other platform 9 so as to cause 'the same to also'lower for swinging the other platform 7 upwardly to closed'position. The animal is thus securely trapped and lowered away from a pointer near the bait and asr the platform 9 has thus been engaged beneath the armv 18, the only escape for the animal is to swing the Vdoor 15 upwardly to Lan open position by pushing against Ithe latter. Then this is done, the animal will pass through the doorway closed by said door /15 into the main trap chamber 6, in an endeavor to escape. then theY door 15 swings upwardly, the arm 19 is moved to swing the arm 18 to the dotted line position thereof in Figure l, wherein the arm 18 is released or out of the path of the platform 9. The parts will return to normal position when the rat passes under said doorv 15, ,which ris relatively light, after which said door 15 will lower to closed position and prevent return of the rat into the runway casing. In passing through the doorway closed b y the door 15, the weight of the animal will be relieved from the platforms 9, and the latter as well yas the platforms 7 will return, due to gravity to their original set position as shown in Figure 2.

The trap is then ready for trapping another animal.

It is believed that, from the above description, the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

In an animal trap of the class described, a casing, trapping means arranged in s aid casing, said trapping means being animal actuated, said casing being formed in one side with an opening, a trapping chamber disposed alongside of said easing and having an opening communicating with the first named opening and affording a passage in the casing and chamber, there being a pair of spaced walls extending into the chamber from said passage, a downwardly inclined door disposed between and pivotally connected at its upper end to said walls, and trip mechanism for the aforesaid trapping means in the chamber comprising a single length of wire coiled between its ends and surrounding the pivot pin for said door, one end of the wire being suspended downwardly and into the interior of the aforesaid casing, and having its'lower end bent to form a release hook for cooperation with saidptrapping means, the other end of the wire overlying said door to be engaged by the latter when swung upwardly by the animal, whereby to disengage said heel; from thev trapping means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED H. J ORGENSEN 

